Young Authors’ Conference
The 23rd Island City Young Authors’ Conference will take place at Cedar Key School on May 4, beginning at 8:30 a.m.. Michigan writer Lisa Wheeler will be visiting. Wheeler has written many children’s books, including “Ugly Pie”, “One Dark Night” and “Sailor Moo”. During her workshop, she will share her love of writing and the process of publishing a book.
Florida storyteller Pat Nease will entertain with her assortment of made-up tales. Cedar Key elementary students will read their own “published” stories during The Author’s Chair.
This year’s conference is sure to be a huge success. Many thanks go out to Harbor Master Suites, Cedar Key PTO and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society for their generous support.
For more information, contact Linda Campbell at campbell@levy.k12.fl.us or by phone at 352-543-5223.

Saturday

Cupcake Wars in Williston
Cupcake Wars will be featured Saturday, May 5, at Williston’s Relay for Life.
Two-member teams will be challenged with decorating 40 cupcakes in 40 minutes for a chance to claim victory and reign as the Cupcake Champions.
After the contest, all cupcakes will be sold for $1 and proceeds will go to Relay for Life.
Participants should bring 40 pre-baked cupcakes and all the supplies they will need to decorate – including a table – to the Survivors’ Tent from 4:30-5 p.m. The contest will begin at 6 p.m. There is no refrigeration onsite.
Judges will base their decisions on originality, taste and texture.
The entry fee is $10.

Democrats caucus on Saturday
The Democratic Caucus will be held at the Dogan Cobb Municipal Building in Bronson on Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to select candidates to represent Levy County at the State Caucus in June.
Those wishing to vote must bring their voter registration card showing they are registered Democrats and a picture I.D.
For more information, call Charlie King at 493-4797.

Memorial ride benefits Haven
A 100-mile Memorial Ride for Jane Rocks will begin at 11 a.m. on May 5 at Custom Accessories on U.S. Highway 19, about 3.5 miles north of Chiefland Walmart. The ride ends at the Brick Grill in Old Town.
Donations are appreciated and all proceeds will be donated to Haven Hospice. Sponsors of the motorcycle ride are Kubota, Custom Accessories, Brick Grill, Swamp Printing and the Chiefland Citizen.

Free evening of Bluegrass
A free evening of Bluegrass will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday with performances by Big Cypress Bluegrass and Old Tyme Way.
he Dixie County Historical Society will host the evening of Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel music at the “Old” Old Town Elementary School Auditorium located at State Road 349 and County Road 55A.

Tuesday

Woman’s Club to present check
The Cedar Key Woman’s Club has raised over $2,000 for the Gainesville Fisher House and on Tuesday, May 8, at noon, at the C.K. Woman’s Club clubhouse on State Road 24 the club will be presenting the check to a guest representative of the Fisher House Foundation.
A luncheon will also be served.
Also, on May 8, the club will be raffling its patriotic quilt.

Wednesday

Energy Conservation Awards
On May 9, at 9 a.m. at the Community Center, the city will be hosting a program titled, “ The City of Cedar Key Energy Conservation Grant Educational Outreach Program”. A long title, but the meeting will be brief, less than an hour.
There will be awards given to businesses and there will be assets and information for businesses that will help to reduce energy usage. Plan to attend, it will be well worth your time.

May 12

Eagles to host
lasagna dinner
The Eagles Club in Cedar key is hosting a Lasagna Dinner on May 12, to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Tickets will be $7. Dinners will be served from 1-6 p.m.
For more information, you can email Nancy Preis at nppreis@bellsouth.net or call 352-543-9107

Help 4-H shooters go to competition
Levy County 4-H Shooting Sports is having a "Tuesday Spaghetti Dinner" at 5 p.m. at the Levy County Extension Office Pavilion in Bronson. Dinners include spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, dessert and tea. Cost is adults, $5; and children, $3.
All proceeds go to the four muzzle loading shooters who will be traveling to Grand Island, Neb., in June to represent Florida at the 4-H National shooting competition. Each child must raise about $800 to attend.
Dinners can be made to go, eaten at the pavilion or delivered in the town of Bronson to those who can't travel.
Tickets are being sold for pre-pay orders or can be paid for the night of the dinner.
For more information call Brenda Roberts at 486-4991 or 949-2839

May 30

Non-Fiction Book Bunch to meet
The Non-Fiction Book Bunch will meet on Wednesday, May 30, at 1:30 p.m. at the Cedar Key Library when Erik Larson’s “Issac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History” will be discussed. Please bring suggestions for the October meeting with you. Proposed thus far are:
•S.C. Gwynne’s “Empire of the Summer Moon”;
•Manning Marable’s “Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention”;
•Cornell University’s Legacy Project “Thirty Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans”;
•and Candice Millard’s “River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey”.
The Book Bunch had its last meeting for the season several weeks ago. As the last turnout was small, we ask that you e-mail your suggestions for books to read in the fall to Maggi Funchion at funchiond@bellsouth.net. One suggestion is that, as the group has read much historical fiction this year, perhaps memoirs or classic novels may be in order.

June 2

Chiefland Watermelon Festival, bike ride
The Chiefland Woman’s Club is hosting the 58th Annual Chiefland Watermelon Festival in historic downtown Chiefland and partnering with the Suwannee Valley Rotary Club's 1st Tour De Melon. The Tour De Melon is a cycling event for cyclists of all ages on the Greenway Trail and local roadways.
The Watermelon Festival will include a parade, watermelon pageants for all ages, watermelon contest, family fun, fanfare, arts, crafts, food and much more.
For more information on the festival and ride visit: www.chieflandwomansclub.org and www.tourdemelon.com.